The Dharamsala Film Festival (DFF) grew out of a pure love for celebrating the eternal play between consciousness and creativity – and a deep appreciation of how the arts, and most specifically independent film, are powerful vehicles for fostering awareness and change. Additionally, we are world travelers who rejoice in the cross-cultural expansion that subtly transforms all those who wander far and wide, and we embrace film as a medium for this soul-level evolution.

We are committed to providing the local community as well as travelers to this magnificent Himalayan destination with a diverse presentation of high-quality independent films from around the world. The festival themes are CONSCIOUSNESS and CREATIVITY, two widely cherished and intimately related subjects which bear increasing relevance for both our mountain spiritual community and our planet at large. In 2015, we will expand our focus to also specifically include films that exemplify the Divine Feminine and empowerment of women and girls.

We hope that this initiative will profoundly touch festival-goers, stimulate thoughtful reflection on our own ways of life and connection to spirit, and catalyze deepening shifts in the evolution of consciousness. For the community, we wish to partner in creating bridges of understanding and to encourage the practices of sacred arts and activism and ultimately contribute to the harmonious development of Dharamsala for all of its inhabitants and visitors.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Award

Rules & Terms

2015 Call for Entries

To all Creative People, Filmmakers & Producers,

DFF is now calling for film submissions for the 2015 festival, to be held in Dharamsala, India, at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) on June 11-13, 2015.

DFF Rules and Regulations
November 6, 2014

Dharamsala Film Festival (DFF) will be held held in Upper Dharamsala, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India, on June 11-13, 2015.

DFF's themes are CONSCIOUSNESS and CREATIVITY. In 2015, we will expand our focus to also specifically include films that exemplify the Divine Feminine and empowerment of women and girls.

There are no restrictions with regards to genres or style of film, but submitted films must relate to one or both festival themes. We welcome films that explore the various spiritual traditions from around the world, as well as films that cherish the human spirit. We welcome a variety of subjects on sacred arts, the role of creativity in the evolution of consciousness, the effects of arts on education, creative approaches to transformation, explorations of the empowerment of woman and girls as well as films that explore the Divine Feminine.

We seek inspiring films that promote awareness, allow a more profound reflection upon contemporary themes, enlighten, empower, stimulate new debates, discussions and perspectives, and hopefully encourage positive personal and community commitment among the festival goers.

Films are selected on the basis of achievement in form and content.

Only films completed after 1 January 2009 are eligible for submission.

Films must be submitted no later than March 10, 2015. Early submissions are encouraged.

The required format for both the selection process and the festival screening is DVD (PAL or NTSC), whatever the original format.

Your DVD must be labelled with the title of the film, total running time, original format, and the FilmFreeway tracking number. It is best to use plain DVDs, do not put any sticker whatsoever onto the disc.

All costs of sending DVD copies are the responsibility of the participants who are entering their films.

The DVD copies of your film must be sent to DFF by March 10, 2015 at the very latest (Postmarked). All copies should be sent to:

Please mark on your envelopes/parcels: No commercial value, for cultural purposes only. DFF will not accept deliveries that entail the payment of taxes for the festival.

All filmmakers will be notified via e-mail in the first week of April 2015 with the selection results.

Upon selection, the entrant grants the festival the permission to use all publicity materials including three minutes of the film to be used for promotional purposes. Available press materials must be sent to DFF upon notification of selection.

Submission materials will not be returned but will be kept in the festival's archives.

Any entries of films made to DFF presuppose knowledge of and acceptance of the rules and regulations as put forth above.